Oct
2016

A Happy Surprise

categories: #PoweredByIndie, Adorkable, Amazon, debut, doing what you love, self-publishing, writing, YA

I got an unexpected (and awesome) email from Amazon over the weekend.  They’re doing this thing in October called #PoweredByIndie to celebrate great writing with a focus on indie KDP published titles/writers.  And that’s only one part of the awesome.  The other part is…they’ve chosen ADORKABLE as one of the featured titles!!!

Like I said, so surprising and definitely very cool.

You can check it out here.

It’s all about the indie and promoting self-published work, which I think is a fantastic idea.  And it gave me the topic for this week’s post, so thank you, Amazon :).

Here are some of my favorite things about being an indie author.

One of my most favorite things is the readers.  I love it when someone contacts me to say they read and loved my book.  That is something I never take for granted.  I love that the story they read and loved is the one I wanted to put out into the world.  Going indie allowed me to safeguard the heart of my story, the characters, and I will always love it for that reason.

I also love the empowerment.  It is such an amazing feeling to take charge of your own destiny.  Going indie, taking that first step and deciding that you are going to make all the decisions about your book, it can be a scary thing.  But if you believe in your book, your story and your characters, you have the power to put the story out there.

You are the one who decides when it’s ready.  You are the one who decides what the cover should look like, how the summary should read, and when to release the book.  The power is in your hands.

Amazon, KDP and indie publishing made it possible for me to publish the books that I love so much.  #PoweredByIndie is right.  Indie publishing empowers authors and allows them to create books that they love and reach readers who may love them as well.

That’s why I’m proud to say I’m an indie author.

I hope you all are having a great week so far, and if you haven’t, I hope you give indie books like ADORKABLE a chance <3.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Sep
2016

Doc Holliday & Wyatt Earp

categories: Adorkable, Be Yourself, debut, doing what you love, YA

image

There’s this moment in Tombstone where someone asks Doc Holliday why he’s doing all this (as in, why is he fighting so hard and putting his already failing health at risk).

Doc says simply, “Wyatt Earp is my friend.”

The Other Guy scoffs and says something like, “I got lots of friends.”

After a long pause, Doc says, “I don’t.”

I have always loved this friendship, and I’ve always felt a kinship with Doc because, like him, I only ever had one true best friend.  She is my favorite person of all time.  I love her so much and would’ve done anything for her–including facing down Johnny Ringo in her stead.

But I didn’t get that chance.

My best friend passed away last year from cancer, and I miss her every moment of every day.  She passed before getting to see me publish ADORKABLE, which I will always regret.  Each day is less without her here.  I am less, too.  Part of me, the very best part, died with her, and I am still not at peace with her passing.

But, I will tell you…I was blessed to know her.  I was blessed to have her in my life.  I was blessed to be raised by her, to experience her humor, great taste in music, movies and books, and to witness her innate goodness.  And I was blessed to have her as a best friend.

Doc had it right.

You only need one.

And if you have a best friend like that, well, then I’d say you’re pretty blessed.

Happy birthday, Aunt Pat.  I finally published that book you loved so much, and some people loved Sally and Becks just like you said they would.  I’m sure you’re doing the I-told-you-so dance up in Heaven, hanging with Mema, the babies, David Bowie, and Alan Rickman.  You’re probably smiling over the fact that I referenced Tombstone to describe our friendship (it’s true, though).  I love you, miss you, and hope you are well.  Love, Your Cookie

Hope you all have a great weekend filled with good times and great friends.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Sep
2016

And the winner is…

categories: Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, giveaway, self-publishing, YA

Today marks the end of the “I <3 ADORKABLE” Giveaway–which means it’s time to announce a winner!  The randomly selected winner of this giveaway and a $25 Amazon gift card is…

Jen!!!  Congratulations, Jen, I will be emailing your e-card shortly. 🙂

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this giveaway.  I really enjoy doing these, and this one in particular made celebrating the paperback release of ADORKABLE that much more awesome. (Ahhhh, it’s actually a paperback!)

I wanted to let you know that Amazon has already merged ADORKABLE‘s two formats (e-book and paperback) so they can be found on the same page.  I know…that was fast!  I thought it might take a week at least, but I’m new to this, so everything is a learn-as-you-go process.

Also, I’m so happy to say that there have already been some orders for the paperback!  Like non-family member orders (and some family orders).  Anyway again…that was fast…and I am thankful (to both the family and non-family ADORKABLE readers lol!).

Hope you all have a great day!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Sep
2016

Happy Paperback Release Day!!!

categories: Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, Release Day, self-publishing, YA

Okay, I did it.  I pushed the button–it’s actually really something.  There are a lot of nerves and deep breaths involved for such a simple thing lol.  But after hitting approve, I stayed up to make sure the book actually published, and it did!

ADORKABLE is now available in paperback.  332 pages, two best friends, one beautiful cover, and all the dorki-ness and heart of the original e-book.

Siiigh…ain’t it beautiful?

paperback2

Yay, yay, yayyy!  It’s actually out there.  The paperback version of ADORKABLE can currently be found at Amazon and Createspace as well as Amazon European stores.  Eventually, the two versions should be on the same Amazon page (but tbh I have no idea how long that will take).  Other channels, like B&N, may pick it up eventually.  Thank you so much to everyone who has supported this little book of mine.  I really do love these characters, and I’m so happy that many of you have as well <3.  It’s because of you that I decided to make this leap and create the paperback version of ADORKABLE in the first place, so thank you!

Again, I have no idea how many people will actually want a physical copy.  But if you do: It’s out there! 🙂

Happy Paperback Release Day, everyone!!! I hope you have a great week!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Sep
2016

5 Things: I’m Loving Right Now

categories: 5 Things, Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, fun, YA

Lists are awesome, and since it is 5 DAYS before the release of the paperback version of ADORKABLE (eep!), it’s time for another “5 Things” post.  September is tough this year and not just because of the print release.  So basically, this is a list of the things that have made me happy this week.

Here are 5 Things I’m Loving Right Now:

  1.  Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.  I started the book a couple of days ago because no matter how great the movie turns out I wanted to read the book first.  So far, I love it!  It’s odd and intriguing, and I can’t wait to get to the end.
  2. Videos of puppies and kittens.  Of course.
  3. Kilig!!!  This amazing, crazy cool Filipino word means (according to Google): exhilaration or elation caused by an exciting or romantic experience.  I also found this definition: the rush or the inexplicable joy one feels after seeing or experiencing something romantic.  Sigh…  We need more words like this!  We need more “kilig”!  I love it <3 .  Thank you, Beatrice and Henz for introducing me.
  4. Game of Thrones Season 6 (which i binge-watched last weekend).  Arya, Jon Snow, Brienne, and the Hound, all my faves are back.
  5. Sleeping in, warm socks, and nice people.

Kinda added a few more on that last one lol.  I hope your week is going well.  If you read ADORKABLE, I hope you feel the “kilig” :).  And yeah…just 5 more days until the print release!!!  Crossing my fingers that all goes well!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Sep
2016

I Love Book Deals!

categories: Adorkable, doing what you love, fun, Kindle Countdown Deal, promotion, YA

It’s true.  Book deals are fantastic, and I love them!  Who doesn’t love a great deal, right?

So as I said in the last post, today is the day!  ADORKABLE will be just $0.99 starting at 8:00 am today and ending on September 16, 2016 at 12:00 am.  Hooray for book deals!

If you or someone you know needs a little YA romance to read over the weekend, you may want to give ADORKABLE a try!  I really hope you do :).

This is a limited time deal, so if you’d like to help me spread the word, I’d love the help!

I hope you enjoy your weekend and that it’s filled with lovely books and good times.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Sep
2016

ADORKABLE Updates

categories: Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, giveaway, Kindle Countdown Deal, Release Day, self-publishing, YA

Okay, so after doing a bit of homework, I have learned much–and probably still not enough lol!

Update #1: No pre-orders.

I researched pre-orders on print books.  Here is my reaction to what I found: What…the…what??? 0_o

It was so easy to set up pre-order for the e-book version of ADORKABLE.  I thought it would be just as straightforward with print books, but alas…this is not the case.  To see what I mean, here is a link to the process.  And another from the original thread on this topic.

After reading (and re-reading) these and other articles, I really think I could do it.  No, I know I could do it.  I’m good at following directions–especially when it’s for something important.

But that’s the thing: ADORKABLE is my book baby.  It’s my debut.  It’s Sally and Becks and Hooker and Ash and…it’s a piece of me.  If there was even one change in the process, something might go wrong, and…nope.  Not taking that chance.

So yeah, no pre-orders.  The book will be out really soon anyway–which brings me to my next update. 🙂

Update #2: The Official Release Date for the print edition of ADORKABLE will be September 20, 2016!!!

That’s less than 2 weeks away, you guys.  I’m sooooo excited!!!  I have no idea how many people will want the print edition.  I’ve had several people tell me they’d like a print version, and I hope there will be new readers.  Maybe they only read print books and will find ADORKABLE this way.  I hope old readers who loved the e-book will want to add the paperback to their shelves.  Again, I’m just so freakin’ excited about it!

So excited, in fact, that I have a third update.

Update #3: On Friday, there will be a Kindle Countdown Deal!  ADORKABLE, the original ebook version, will be available for just $0.99 for a limited time to celebrate the upcoming release of the print book.  I’ll do another post Friday, but yeah.  Deals are awesome, and I hope a lot of readers will benefit from this one!

And those are the ADORKABLE updates. The “I <3 ADORKABLE” giveaway is still open if you want to enter.  I hope you are all having a great week!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. ADORKABLE was #1 in Germany, Canada and France this week in its categories! Woohoo!

 


Sep
2016

Big News & A Giveaway!

categories: Adorkable, debut, fun, giveaway, self-publishing, YA

Big, Huge, Awesome News: ADORKABLE is coming to print in September!!!

Yes, you read that right.  This little debut YA romance is going to be a paperback.  I’ll keep you updated on the official release date and also when the book will be available for pre-order.  I already have my proof (which is so beautiful!), but of course, I need a finished copy for my shelves.  Ahhh, I’m so excited! 🙂

So, to celebrate ADORKABLE‘s print release and to thank all of the readers, bloggers, reviewers, AMAZING people who’ve made this possible, I’m doing a giveaway!

The “I <3 Adorkable” Giveaway will run from September 1 (midnight) until September 22 (midnight), and you can enter using the Rafflecopter below to win a $25 Amazon gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!  Thank you again for your support, and I hope you’ll all check out ADORKABLE when it comes to print later in September!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Aug
2016

It’s Finally Here!

categories: Adorkable, cover love, debut, doing what you love, self-publishing, writing, YA

Got a surprise in the mail the other day! 🙂  Which really, it wasn’t a surprise because I knew it was coming, but it still felt like a surprise.  I wrote ADORKABLE several years ago, published it just this year at the end of March.  Yesterday, I got to finally hold my book in my hands for the first time.

It was an incredible feeling <3.

Sigh…I felt it all.  And yes, I did cry just a little.

The print cover turned out AMAZING! Thank you, thank you, thank you to Stephanie Mooney for working your magic yet again.

And now, I’ll share some pictures (because OF COURSE I had to take pictures!!!).

Prepare yourself for all the pretty.

ADORKABLE_proof

This is what the proof looked like in the box…

ADORKABLE_proof2

…and here’s a look inside…

ADORKABLE_proof3

…and this is the book outside the box, in my hand, with the beautiful cover and spine and all the amazing attributes of a real, live, paperback book!  Oh, I love it, and I loved getting to add ADORKABLE to my bookshelves. 🙂

There is just something about books that you can literally hold in your hand.  No offense to reading devices (I heart mine and use it well and often), but imo a print book is just a different experience.  It’s running your fingers along the cover, flipping the pages, hugging and snuggling the book to your chest…oh is that just me?  Got it, lol!

Anyway, this was the highlight of my week!  I hope you’re enjoying your week as well–and that you get lots of pretty books in the mail, too.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman


Aug
2016

The Unexpected

categories: Adorkable, debut, doing what you love, self-publishing, YA

There are times when I randomly Google my book.

I’ve only done this like 4 times, I promise!

I know, it’s silly right?  But I just want to make sure my baby’s still doing okay out there in the world, see what people are saying, feed my unending curiosity :).  Recently, it just so happens that I found 3 posts people had written about ADORKABLE and…sigh.  They said the nicest things!!!  Each post was unexpected and so very awesome!

If you are one of the people who wrote these posts, just know that you made my day! 🙂

The Reader and the Chef: Top 10 Favorite Books in 2016 (so far)

NewInBooks: Books to Read if You Like YA Romantic Comedies

U.S.-Brazil Book Review: Top 5 Wednesday–Authors You Are Waiting On Another Book From

On the flip side, this week I also discovered some unexpected things that were not-so-nice.  Technology was not my friend.  My email went a bit wonky, so as I was trying to email back and forth with my cover designer, some of my and her replies were not coming through.  Sucked because we were trying to get the print cover for ADORKABLE finalized, and I really didn’t want to inconvenience her.  I also had to download 3 different programs (which took several hours) in order to find the right one to save fill-form PDFs (an issue completely unrelated to the print cover).  Ugggh…

The good news is I finally found the right program, and I was able to order proof copies of ADORKABLE today!

Yayyyy, huzzah, woohoo and all the good stuff!

The proofs should come in sometime next week, and I’ll finally get to hold a physical copy of my book for the first time :).  I. Cannot. Wait.  I hope you all have a great weekend!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman